There’s an important reason why motivational sayings and slogans are frequently used in substance use disorder recovery programs. Popular AA sayings and popular AA quotes can be easy-to-remember reminders that other people have been through similar struggles before – and they have come out the other side healed and transformed.
The meaning behind popular recovery quotes is sometimes known and sometimes unknown. Read on to learn a little about the history of these popular quotes and how you can connect them to your recovery journey.
Believe You Can, and You Are Halfway There
This quote by Theodore Roosevelt emphasizes the importance of believing in yourself. In the context of substance use disorder recovery, believing in your ability to overcome addiction can be a powerful first step. Self-confidence helps individuals stay positive and resilient throughout the recovery process. By trusting in their inner strength, individuals can overcome obstacles and persevere through any challenges that lie ahead.
Courage Isn’t Having the Strength to Go On; It Is Going On When You Don’t Have Strength
Unfortunately, the origin of this insightful quote is unclear. However, it’s important to understand that there will be setbacks along the way depending on which recovery method you choose. You may, at times, be physically or mentally exhausted. The meaning behind popular recovery quotes like this one reveals a deeper truth: that true strength is measured by adversity, not the lack of obstacles.
It Works If You Work It
Another quote from an anonymous source focuses on another important aspect of recovery from a substance use disorder: that you will get out what you put in. To put it another way, recovery is not a passive process. Individuals who wish to live free from SUD must be willing to put in work by attending meetings, monitoring their progress, and making adjustments as needed and recommended by a
therapist or clinician. Most of the time, when people say, “It works if you work it,” they’re referring to a treatment program or a 12-step program like Alcoholics Anonymous.
One Day at a Time
How we perceive time can greatly influence our outlook on the recovery process. While some may think of recovery as having a start and end date, this is rarely the reality of how recovery works. Substance use disorder is sometimes referred to as a chronic condition due to the length of time it can take to end a substance use disorder fully. In many cases, according to the National Institutes of Health, it can
take several years or longer for someone to fully cease craving or having compulsions toward a particular drug. That’s why “one day at a time” has become such a popular quote in AA and other programs. You can’t live your whole life at once, but you can tackle your recovery one day at a time, focusing only on the challenges of each day before taking on the next.
The First Step Towards Getting Somewhere Is to Decide You’re Not Going to Stay Where You Are
This quote is attributed to J.P. Morgan, a prominent American financier and banker who played a key role in the industrialization of the United States. He helped create major corporations and stabilize financial markets in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
This quote is relevant to the recovery process because the
first step in recovery is often acknowledging that there’s a problem. In the Alcoholics Anonymous framework, for example, admitting and accepting the reality of the SUD is essential for starting the recovery journey. In general, it’s not possible to move forward and out of alcoholism or other SUDs without first determining that you don’t want to remain within them.
Fall Seven Times, Stand Up Eight
This ancient Japanese proverb is a succinct reminder that setbacks will happen along the way as someone works to overcome addiction. With each “fall” comes another opportunity to stand up and remain resilient. Although it isn’t inferred in the quote, standing up again and again often requires support from loved ones and a community of supporters. At Addiction Freedom Now, we believe that
community support and knowledge about the prevalence of addiction in our community is key to helping those who need help seek recovery programs.
Recovery Is Not for People Who Need It. It’s for People Who Want It
As one of many popular AA quotes, this saying attributed to an anonymous author may appear counterintuitive at first. The saying draws a line between people who need recovery and people who want it because even when someone technically needs recovery, the process will not begin until that individual wants to recover.
Sometimes, this can require intervention from friends and family who are worried about the health and safety of their loved ones. Many people go years before they are willing to take the steps needed to begin recovery. This is not to say they aren’t in need of recovery the entire time, but that it is rarely effective until they want it.
You Don’t Have to See the Whole Staircase Just Take the First Step
This popular quote by Martin Luther King Jr. emphasizes the importance of taking the first step. The civil rights leader is saying that it is okay not to know where you’ll end up or how long the journey takes, so long as you begin it. Taking the first step can be symbolically powerful and quite literally transformational for those who have the courage to do so .
Rock Bottom Became the Solid Foundation on Which I Rebuilt My Life
As many people may know, author J.K. Rowling was a “late bloomer” who did not achieve commercial success as a writer until well into her 30s. At the time, she was a single mother struggling to support her daughter.
Her quote is useful for anyone going through a recovery program because it flips the narrative on “hitting rock
bottom.” Rather than seeing that as a negative in her life, she sees that low point in her life as the foundation for her success as an author. Top AA quotes often have this sort of insight that can only come from someone who has been through a tough journey and come out the other side transformed.
I Am Not Defined by My Relapses but by My Decision to Remain in Recovery Despite Them
This anonymous quote acknowledges something important: relapses are not uncommon. Recovery programs account for this and encourage anyone seeking recovery not to see relapse as a failure but rather as one of possibly many bumps on the road to recovery. The quote ensures that anyone seeking recovery has a realistic understanding of the challenges they may face.
You Are Stronger Than You Think
Recovery requires strength. At times, individuals going through recovery programs may feel that their strength is depleted or even non-existent. Having the resolve to dig deep and find that source of strength can be crucial to completing recovery programs. Finding a support network can aid in that effort by allowing individuals to draw strength from friends, family, and other loved ones.
Every Storm Runs Out of Rain
Poet Maya Angelou gifted the world with this lovely sentiment. The metaphor is an apt one for those on the path of recovery. Working through the issues associated with SUD can feel like a turbulent storm. When you are in the middle of a storm, it can feel like the upheaval will never end.
The reality is that literal storms always run out of rain, and so do metaphorical storms. On the other side of the storm are calmer waters waiting for you once you see your recovery journey through.
Recovery Is Hard. Regret Is Harder
Brittany Burgunder is an author, motivational speaker, and eating disorder recovery advocate known for her memoir Safety in Numbers, which chronicles her personal journey through anorexia, bulimia, and recovery. She created this often-used quote as someone who knows about the recovery process. The meaning is clear: recovery is indeed hard. However, living with regret and possibly serious health consequences or the loss of important relationships is harder.
The Only Way Out Is Through
Poet Robert Frost’s quote is short and to the point. We often want to avoid the difficult path in life. The reality is that there are no easy solutions to difficult problems. Rather than thinking that some exit door is waiting to solve your problems, Frost suggests that going through the storm and addressing it directly is the only true way out.
Change Your Thoughts, and You Change Your World
Norman Vincent Peale was an American minister and author best known for his book The Power of Positive Thinking, which promoted the idea that positive attitudes can lead to personal and professional success.
This quote reflects some cognitive behavioral therapy thinking. Modern psychology and psychotherapy
acknowledge the role of our thought processes in framing our perceptions. For example, when someone can end negative thought patterns, that helps them perceive the world differently. This self-reinforcing activity can help people as they work to end their substance use.
Strength Doesn’t Come from What You Can Do. It Comes from Overcoming the Things You Once
Rikki Rogers is a writer and advocate known for her work in mental health awareness, particularly related to trauma and its impact on individuals. She often shares her personal experiences to help others and raise awareness about mental health issues.
This quote offers hope for anyone who worries that they do not have the strength or ability to see the recovery process through. Common recovery sayings in SMART Recovery, AA, and other recovery programs often focus on reframing how we think about overcoming challenges. Many people are naturally risk-averse and see setbacks as a type of failure.
Successfully completing a recovery program requires an understanding of the challenges that come from addiction and the reality that setbacks and relapses may be part of that journey. Many things in life that come easily do not lead to the most meaningful rewards. The same is true for people seeking freedom from SUD.
Recovery FAQs
Substance use disorders are a complex issue that affects millions of people worldwide. Understanding the causes, signs, and treatment options can be vital in taking the first steps toward recovery. Below are some frequently asked questions to help provide insight into this challenging but conquerable battle.
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The caring community at Addiction Freedom Now believes that knowledge and community can greatly benefit anyone who is on a recovery journey. We share stories and raise awareness through social media and blog content. Our message is one of hope told through the stories of others.
We welcome and encourage anyone who cares about this topic to engage with our content and to follow us as we work to raise awareness of the realities of addiction and the strength that comes from knowing that people living with a substance use disorder are not alone. Feel free to reach out to our team at any time with questions or feedback.
Sources:
- Dennis, M. L., Scott, C. K., Funk, R., & Foss, M. A. (2005). The duration and correlates of addiction and treatment careers. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 28(2), S51–S62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2004.10.013
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019, March 16). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Mayoclinic.org; Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/about/pac-20384610
